Plants and Poetry: Of delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red),

To celebrate Poetry month here in North America we are going to look into the influence that plant world has had on this literary medium.

I admit I am a poetry aficionado, and will seek out the sublime and intricate connection word smiths convey when struck by the power of nature, especially the plant kingdom. Often times the power of words carry the reader into a deeper understanding self while opening the door to introspection on our relationship to nature.

Using plant imagery in poetry

The education of children with the gift of poetry cannot be underestimated. It is often used to express the feelings evoked by our natural surroundings. Walks in nature, gardens and flowers have all been highly praised via poetry.

In modern times with the current technology one would think it would be easier, but the trend in education is for speed not depth in understanding. The focus is often to regurgitate, pass exams and not to create. That being said, there is a renaissance via youth, in many countries of the written and spoken word, helped by the variations carried in the music world, like hip hop and dub poetry.

A. A. Milne

One particular poem which resonated and fed into my early love of plants was “The Dormouse and the Dr.” by A. A. Milne (1882-1956) the creator of the Winnie the Pooh stories.

This 1924 poem was published in the collection When We Were Very Young, and I was very young when the primary class listened attentively to the enthused reading by Sister Geraldine.

I knew the flowers well as most gardens in London had these flowers. As we listened to the poem, we could relate to the dormouse, as those were days when children were seen but not heard.

This children’s poem has such profound depth for its initial simplicity, much like George Orwell’s ‘Animal Farm’ it is now more relevant than ever. Let’s look at the layers of meaning.

A very fitting piece for a highly class stratified society. Milne, a journalist and playwright before the fame of Pooh bear, wrote this poem while on a summer vacation in Wales. During eleven rainy days in the summerhouse he penned the verses which would be come a classic, with illustrations from E. H. Shepard is showing children how it works by using beauty of delphiniums blue and geraniums red.

The poem is evokes Kent, which is known as the garden of England due to its hop gardens and abundance of local produce. An ideal place to get the best Chrysanthemum cuttings.

Dormice are known hibernate in winter and this poem is about an aunt explaining why the dormice sleep unlike other rodents, and on the deeper level of being told what is best for you by someone else and them taking over your life. In this instance an overbearing Dr. from Kent. The patient submits to the authority of the Dr. who is not interested in anything the dormouse might feel about his own condition. As a result of the dismissive attitude of the Dr. the dormouse retreats into his own world of Chrysanthemums.

We see how the dormouse deals with it. Holding on to his dream in the only way he knows how by sleeping in a bed of Chrysanthemums and dreaming of his beloved delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red).

It reflects a very British submission to class and authority at the time. It is interesting to contrast it to the era current era with a British King’s upcoming coronation and to see how things may or may not have changed.

THE DORMOUSE AND THE
DOCTOR
There once was a Dormouse who lived in a bed
Of delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red),
And all the day long he’d a wonderful view
Of geraniums (red) and delphiniums (blue).

A Doctor came hurrying round, and he said:
“Tut-tut, I am sorry to find you in bed.
Just say ‘Ninety-nine,’ while I look at your chest. . . .
Don’t you find that chrysanthemums answer the best?”

The Dormouse looked round at the view and replied
(When he’d said “Ninety-nine”) that he’d tried and he’d tried,
And much the most answering things that he knew
Were geraniums (red) and delphiniums (blue).

The Doctor stood frowning and shaking his head,
And he took up his shiny silk hat as he said:
“What the patient requires is a change,” and he went
To see some chrysanthemum people in Kent.

The Dormouse lay there, and he gazed at the view
Of geraniums (red) and delphiniums (blue),
And he knew there was nothing he wanted instead
Of delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red).

The Doctor came back and, to show what he meant,
He had brought some chrysanthemum cuttings from Kent.
“Now these,” he remarked, “give a much better view
Than geraniums (red) and delphiniums (blue).”

They took out their spades and they dug up the bed
Of delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red),
And they planted chrysanthemums (yellow and white).
“And now,” said the Doctor, “we’ll soon have you right.”

The Dormouse looked out, and he said with a sigh:
“I suppose all these people know better than I.
It was silly, perhaps, but I did like the view
Of geraniums (red) and delphiniums (blue).”

The Doctor came round and examined his chest,
And ordered him Nourishment, Tonics, and Rest.
“How very effective,” he said, as he shook
The thermometer, “all these chrysanthemums look!”

The Dormouse turned over to shut out the sight
Of the endless chrysanthemums (yellow and white),
“How lovely,” he thought, “to be back in a bed
Of delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red).”

The Doctor said, “Tut! It’s another attack!”
And ordered him Milk and Massage-of-the-back,
And Freedom-from-worry and Drives-in-a-car,
And murmured, “How sweet your chrysanthemums are!”

The Dormouse lay there with his paws to his eyes,
And imagined himself such a pleasant surprise:
“I’ll pretend the chrysanthemums turn to a bed
Of delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red)!”

The Doctor next morning was rubbing his hands,
And saying, “There’s nobody quite understands
These cases as I do! The cure has begun!
How fresh the chrysanthemums look in the sun!”

The Dormouse lay happy, his eyes were so tight
He could see no chrysanthemums, yellow or white,
And all that he felt at the back of his head
Were delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red).

And that is the reason (Aunt Emily said)
If a Dormouse gets in a chrysanthemum bed,
You will find (so Aunt Emily says) that he lies
Fast asleep on his front with his paws to his eyes.

A. A. Milne